Dear readers,
Each week brings a perplexing quandary for me - there is so, so much to report on aboutwomen'sinternationalrepresentationand efforts to expandwomen'srepresentationin the United States but there are also many projects/events/deadlines encroaching on my time that prevent me from doing an adequate job reporting on it all! My time is short again this week but here are a couple highlights!
The New York Timespublished portraits of 130 of the 131 women serving in the 116th Congress - there was anice piecein theTimesdescribing the process andanother great piecein Coieter by Bibi Deitz that captures the impact:
In a perfect world, Congress would have way more women and we wouldn’t be applauding the fact that they comprise almost a quarter of the House and Senate. But—baby steps. This term, women comprise close to 25 percent of Congress, which is still not enough, but it’s a good start.
After all, it was only 102 years ago thatthe first woman was electedto the House of Representatives: Jeannette Rankin of Montana, as the New York Times points out. To commemorate how far we’ve come (and how much farther we need to go), the Times took it upon themselves tophotograph 130 of the 131 womenelected to Congress this year—and the result is inspiring. (Rep Liz Cheney of Wyoming “was not available” to sit for a portrait.)
The Times’ portraits challenge any pre-existing ideas of what power looks like by placing women of all generations and colors in the spotlight, and letting their dignity and grace shine through. Photographers Elizabeth D. Herman and Celeste Sloman chose to light the women gently, letting their features take the spotlight. In a few portraits, lush yellow or red curtains hang in the background, evoking and redefining President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s official portrait. In all instances, the women’s eyes seem to say: “This is what power looks like.”
Rep Elise Stefanik this week held a kick off event for herEPACthat is dedicated to supporting the election of more republican women to Congress. Stefanik writes on Twitter "Our E-PAC website is now live! Check it out to read all about my mission to elect more#GOPWomento Congress in 2020 and beyond! Click on the “Want to Run?” tab if you are a Republican woman ready to get off the sidelines."Stay tuned for more on this initiative!
Four women members of Congress have declared their intention to seek the democratic presidential nomination and others may follow. I have had many conversations with friends, family, and colleagues about the lineup of candidates all of which point directly to the need for aRanked Choice Voting systemin each of the primaries and caucuses - and in the general election - to eliminate split votes among like-minded candidates and like-minded voters. I hope that you will help me to raise this issue with the candidates and the state party officials who have the power to upgrade the selection process in their states to ensure that candidates emerge who have majority support. Find a flyer on Ranked Choice Voting attached and email or call me with any questions about RCV!
There are a number of events that sister organizations are planning, they include:
- Today'sevent at 4pm hosted by Swanee Hunt and Pantsuit Politics -grab your seat hereor listening in to the podcast onPantsuit Politicsthat will be available next week.
- OnJanuary 23at 1pmthe Barbara Lee Family Foundation is hosting a webinar on the findings from their latest research memo, “Relaunch: Resilience and Rebuilding for Women Candidates After an Electoral Loss."For every record-breaking win for a woman candidate in 2018, many women went home empty-handed. Our encouraging research shows how women can reposition themselves after a campaign loss."Register for that event here.
- Register for the Courage to Run 5Kon April 13th in the next two weeks and get the early bird discount!
- A number of us are co-hostingRunning Start'sterrific event planned forFebruary 12that the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC - I hope to see many of you there!Young Women to Watch Awards 5:45 pm - 8 pm Embassy of Canada | 501 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Tuesday, February 12th Honoring New Women Members & Introducing Rising Stars - buy your tix here!
The always appreciative and empowering Patti Russo writes that theWomen'sCampaign School at Yale application period is officially launched and will run through April 15th via the website:WCSYale.orgfor their June 17-21 session at Yale Law School.
While the also appreciative and empowering Sharon Nelson writes that her
Women'sCandidate Training Class at CUNYstarts on February 23 and lasts for 12 weeks.That's all I have time for today my friends!CynthiaP.S. Celinda Lake shared with me this great stat from Rep Chellie Pingree (elected with ranked choice voting from Maine) from this week - we are all making history!
